Upsilon Alumni Association — Sigma Pi Upsilon Chapter
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Month: March 2005

  • Stratis Zampathas entered the Adytum (1/31/04)

    Stratis Zampathas entered the Adytum on Jan. 31, 2004, in Kamuela, Haw.

    His wife of 56 years, Georgia Zampathas, said, “To Stratis, Sigma Pi was a joy and a prideful experience. He never forgot his fraternity brothers.”

    She can be contacted at P.O. Box 6895, Kamuela, Haw. 96743.

    Stratis had medical problems during his final years, but he inspired many people with his determination to be part of the world around him. His wife, Georgia, provided nurturing care and loving comfort and dignity. Even when Stratis had difficulty speaking, his eyes spoke voumes.

    His grandchildren remember him with a fondness and acute sense of innter calm and strength that his quiet demeanor bespoke. His son, Jim, and eldest grandchild, Lisa, remember a strong, dynamic character.

    Stratis was born July 6, 1918, in Sacramento and delivered newspapers as a youngster, allowing him a good historical perspective on the city which helped him in future years.

    He graduated from UCLA in 1941, where he had joined Sigma Pi. He earned a graduate degree at USC and a Ph.D. at the University of Athens in his family home of Greece.

    Stratis spent much of his post-fraternity life in Sacramento, serving in community and public functions. He worked as a teacher and coach at several middle schools, and his former students regularly kept in contact with him over the years. He felt a great responsibility toward is family and community.

    His community involvement includes membership in Phi Delta Kappa professional organization, the Sacramento chapter of Rotary International and a 32nd degree member of the Sacramento Scottish Rite, member of Ben Ali Shrine.

    Stratis also was president of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, president of the Pan-Arcadian Associations, secretary of AHEPA, president of the American Hellenic Professional Society. Stratis helped coordinate the donation of a replica of the sculpture of Poseidon that stands in the Sacramento Community Center.

    Stratis served in the political sphere as secretary of the Sacramento Landmarks Commission and as a commissioner of the Sacramento Redevelopment Agency. He played a central role in obtaining and planning the federal funding and redevelopment of Old Sacramento and the state-funded Railroad Museum of Sacramento.

  • Brother Ballard Strikes Again – Baby Daughter #2!

    Brother Ballard Strikes Again – Baby Daughter #2!

    ballard_girls1Lesley and I (Jim Ballard ’92) welcomed Delaney Brooke Ballard in to the world yesterday morning.
    A bit earlier than planned (by a few days) but everyone is doing very well.
    Ellie, our first daughter who turns 2 on Saturday, doesn’t quite know what to make of her just yet but did tell me this morning she dreamt of “Ba-bee.”

    Lesley will be at Sharp Mary Birch until Thursday (Room 686).
    I’m taking the week off which is not exactly helping me pay for two weddings!
    Nevertheless, I plan to drink away her college tuition at next year’s football games.

  • Stewart Stands Tall

    WESTWOOD – The Upsilon brothers greeted Los Angeles Times reporter Larry Stewart with a chair and open ears at the 83rd annual “Founders’ Day” on Feb. 19 at Sigma Pi Manor.

    Stewart, the Los Angeles Times sports media columnist and a friend of Joe Marsalek from the San Gabriel Valley, gave his first speech standing on a chair in the the Chapter Room, thanks to a non-existant P.A. system. Stewart attended Las Vegas Bowl champion Fresno State, but generously wore a blue UCLA shirt and encouraged all Bruins to exude their blue and gold spirit. And for good reason – his daughter Jill also is a Bruin.

    Larry fired up the brave Bruin fans, especially Paul Dinh, who wanted to storm the Times building for their USC coverage. He encouraged us to get Karl Dorrell more excited and is optimistic about Ben Howland’s first steps back to the Promised Land and Final Four.

    Bob Seaman, our dedicated brother who is the second American to run a sub-4:00 mile and another Central Valley product along with his late brother and fellow Upsilon alumnus John Seaman, revelled with Larry about the Glory Days in the Central Valley. Steve Yu, a Bakersfield native, explained the cultivation of cumquats on his family farm.

    The event was out of control, as normal, even though last year’s rowdy bunch led to a ban on Little Sisters serving dinner (thanks, Dan Romero!). Matt Sumrow even brought the beer on time.

    The “Farthest Traveled” Award went to Jim Murphy, who came from Jacksonville. He slightly beat out Tom Giffin and Doug Glantz, who both journeyed from the Bay Area. A slim Tom now has three children and left them at Disneyland with his wife, Robyn, to get drunk with the brothers. Doug has made it three years in a row, despite living far in Dallas and the East Bay.

    The “Wisest Returnee” Awards went to a trio from the early 1950s – Joe Marsalek, Paul Hutton and Ken Ingram.

    After Jim Cochran and Ed Cox’s return after 20-year streak of absence, former Head Hasher and E.C. member Jason Gray returned after being a ghost for 12 years. He now has three kids and drives a Camaro in La Canada. Tom Giffin also returned for the first time in 11 years. Ivan Quiroga, recently engaged, continued his two-year streak of attending after a 10-year absence.

    Several former Sages attended: Larry Coval, Adam Brockman, Chris Baker, Won Park and Adam Brockman. Jeff Bara met us at Maloney’s, following his Auto Racing Fantasy League draft.

    The post-party was at Maloney’s, as usual, and Mike Alvarez was back in his prime, buying shots for all the brothers. Kerry O’Hairball made an appearance, gouging free drinks from the bar patrons (Hey, she’s an O’Hara, what do you expect?)

    Plan on joining us in 2006. Bob Hillerman plans to roadtrip from FLORIDA to accept his Golden Cross, and Tim O’Hara will sponsor the bar for the fourth consecutive year.

    Business notes: Art Martinez, secretary of the 501-c-3 non-profit Upsilon Alumni Association, chaired the annual meeting. Herman Quispe is the sole board member with decision-making responsibility. Jay Ross was elected UAA President by acclamation.

    Tom Miller remains president of the Housing Board. A meeting for new members will be held in April, and we encourage all to attend and become more involved in the management of the fraternity. If interested , contact Tom at LvzGolf@AOL.com.

    Aloha!

  • Brother Ross Hosts Dinner for 12 Strangers

    WEST L.A. – I hosted 10 undergrad students at my home on Saturday night (Mar. 5) as part of the Student Alumni Association’s “Dinner for 12 Strangers”.

    Maybe you heard about it when on campus but never considered attending. That was me, and this year, I decided to host it – figured to give back to the Bruin community that was so helpful to me as an active on my own in Los Angeles after moving from Phoenix.

    I invited all the Upsilon alumni whom I know to attend, but not a single one replied ‘yes’! Well, you all missed out because nine of the 10 students were lady Bruins, and they were eager to hear the wise advice of campus sages like us. (Check out the picture.)

    Hosting it is easy – I was very informal, mainly because I don’t have any nice furniture or china. I grilled fish and made a polenta casserole. I had beer, wine and margies, but no one drank anything but lemonade!

    An SAA student representative attended, as did an assistant professor of material science, a nice gent named Vivdus, who hails from Latvia.

    We had plenty of interesting conversations, and I relayed the stories of Kerry O’Hairball picking a fight with Cory Paus in a bar in Seattle after the Washington game this year and my semi-friendship with former hoops coach Steve Lavin.

    The students are more involved in charity and the community than the students (including me) I remember, which was impressive. They were less impressed by my fraternity glory days stories, though they seemed amused by them. (This is probably because this event attracts more go-getters than card players.).

    All in all, a good experience. I encourage you to host a dinner next year. There were 70 dinners this year, but still, many students were not selected because too few hosts volunteered.

  • Dynamic Duo Returns Home

    WESTWOOD – Jim Cochran and Ed Cox’s pledge class in the early 1960s packed a lot of punch. There were only two members – Jim and Ed – but each of them were elected Sage in future years 1964 and 1965.

    The two returned to Sigma Pi Manor for the first time in 20 years for the Upsilon Chapter’s 83rd “Founders’ Day” celebration on Feb. 19. Jim, who had a reserved parking spot, found history repeating himself. He found a parking spot right across from the house when he arrived, a rarity these days!

    During their days, brother Craig Owens was able to book bands that he knew in high school from his South Bay home for parties. At one party, two of the Safaris showed up, and at a memorable Pajama-reno of 1962, the Beach Boys played. (Jim and Ed both SWEAR this is true.) By 1963, the Beach Boys were ‘too big’ for campus parties, however.

    Pajama-renos consisted of hot babes wearing not much – everyone wore pajamas, or less. Ed’s best costume is when he wore a flashing red light in his boxer shorts. There were mattresses laid 3-feet tall in the chapter room and a real bathtub full of never-ending Screwdrivers in the backyard. “Some dressed conservatively, some didn’t,” Ed said. Sadly, Ed has no old pictures of these parties – well before the days of cel phone cameras.

    “It was a chance to grow up a lot,” said Ed, who arrived at college as a young 17-year-old from South Gate H.S. “Looking back, we caused a lot of damage but survived it. Sometimes kids think they’re invincible, but they really just lucky to live through it!”

    However, by 10:00 p.m. on the night of Founders Day, the two warriors were ready to turn in.

    “We faded a lot sooner than in years past,” Jim said. “Sigma Pi was a great experience. Ed and I worked a lot together. It was fun and educational and helped a lot in my later life.”

    Ed is retired, having sold a bus dealership. He lives in Long Beach with his boat and motorhome.

    Jim plans to retire from his fund-raising business this year after 38 years. Ed tells of how Jim underwent a lung transplant several years ago and has recovered very well. Jim stays in contact with brother Tom Dempsey (now an attorney in Westwood), and the son of his friend Steve Hoag, Chris Hoag, was an Upsilon brother who graduated last year.

    Ed talked to Jim for the first time in 20 years prior to attending Founders Day, meeting up via the Upsilon website. One benefit is that Jim always has extra inventory from fund-raising sales. “He always has a trunk full of chocolate in his car,” Ed said.

    For Jim, glad-handing rushees at the Big Purple House was good training for him. As rush chair, Jim landed 18 pledges, helped by parties and Hollywood-style searchlights.

    “My goal was to get faces guys, and guys who would pay their house bills,” Jim said, a powerhouse at 5-foot-5. “We needed to get guys who were taller than me.”

    Jim had a car, but he would go weeks without driving it because all the parties he needed were at home – kegs on a beer bus, a cheap rock ‘n roll band and a beer bust.

    “We had kegs and there was always something going on,” Jim said. “I never spent any money socially. At Sigma Pi, they taught us when you work, you work hard. When you play, play hard. I spent a lot of time in the library, but when there was a party, I partied. I didn’t play a lot of cards.”

    They also remember other learning experiences. Pearlie the cook insisted all brothers be punctual for nightly 6:00 p.m. dinner – and it began with a prayer. She ran a tight ship, but the discipline was a good lesson.